Aerospace giant Boeing’s first production plant in Sheffield has been branded as ‘hugely significant’ for South Yorkshire, the North of England and the UK.

Opened today, the 6,200-square-metre facility has 52 staff and 20 apprentices, who will manufacture components for Boeing 737 and 767 jets.

‘The UK provides Boeing with the talent and infrastructure we need to grow and maintain a high level of productivity and quality to meet our significant order book’, Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland said.

Launch: Boeing has opened its first European plant in Sheffield, England

He added: ‘We are proud to expand our relationship with the UK still further with Boeing Sheffield.

‘Our decision to start manufacturing high-value components in the UK is a step-change in our engagement and a further example of Boeing’s commitment to grow here, supporting the UK’s long-term prosperity.’

At full capacity, Boeing Sheffield will produce thousands of parts each month, which will be shipped to the US for assembly at Boeing’s plant in Portland, Oregon.

Boeing said it has invested over £40million in the Sheffield plant.

The company said the plant was built in a bid to ‘vertically integrate and begin in-house manufacturing of key actuation components and systems in the US and the UK, enhancing production efficiency and reducing cost in its supply chain.’

As Brexit approaches, US-based Boeing’s Sheffield site launch has been heralded as a success for the UK’s manufacturing sector.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: ‘Boeing choosing the heart of South Yorkshire as its first European home is testament to our capabilities, talent pool and strong manufacturing supply chains which are vital to job creation and creating value for local economies.

New base: As Brexit approaches, US-based Boeing’s Sheffield site launch has been heralded as a success for the UK’s manufacturing sector

Praise: Business Secretary Greg Clark said ‘Boeing choosing the heart of South Yorkshire as its first European home is testament to our capabilities’

He added: ‘We are leading the world in UK aerospace manufacturing and through our modern Industrial Strategy, we, along with industry, have committed to invest £3.9 billion in aerospace.’

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: ‘This opening of this new facility is hugely significant for South Yorkshire, the wider Northern Powerhouse and, indeed, for the UK.’

Mr Jarvis added: ‘Boeing’s choice of location is a strong sign of confidence in our advanced engineering excellence, confidence in our workforce and strong manufacturing heritage, and confidence in the cutting-edge collaborations between university and business that enable us to lead the world.’

Jenette Ramos, Boeing’s senior vice president of Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Operations, said: ‘We appreciate all the community support for Boeing’s new advanced manufacturing factory in the UK.

‘This is a fabulous example of how we are engaging global talent to provide greater value to our customers.’

The aircraft components manufactured at the new Sheffield site will be made from raw materials sourced from UK-based suppliers.

These include Aeromet International, a Worcester-based supplier of advanced aluminium and magnesium cast parts, and Liberty Speciality Steels, located three miles from the new factory.

UK manufacturing: Aerospace giant Boeing’s first production plant in Sheffield has been branded as ‘hugely significant’

The new plant is situated alongside the University of Sheffield’s Factory 2050, part of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and builds on a 17-year relationship between the aerospace giant and the university at the centre.

It is on the site of the defunct Sheffield City Airport and next to the former site of the Orgreave coking plant, where violent clashes took place during the 1984-85 miners’ strike.

Shares in Boeing rose today after the group posted stronger-than-expected quarterly profits and cash flow, helped by soaring demand from airlines and solid defense sales and services, and raised its 2018 sales and profit estimates.

Demand from commercial airlines has driven a surge in revenue, pushing shares up by roughly a third over the past year.

Boeing shares were up 3.3 per cent to $ 361.51 after rising nearly 5 per cent earlier, helping limit losses on Wall Street.

Jobs: Opened today, the 6,200-square-metre facility has 52 staff and 20 apprentices